Sep 11 In this Place

The following was written based both on personal struggles with congregations and following a joint meeting of young Israeli and Palestinian believers in Jesus/Yeshua. During our meeting we realized we shared a sad, but common generational disillusionment with the existing institution of “church” or “kehila.” For many of us, this results in giving up, either on fellowship, or even on faith altogether.

In this place they call “a church,”We search for vision, grasping at shadowsInstead finding everyone walking behind masksHiding from the transparent intensity of the light

In this place they call “a covering”We long for a safe space, daring to ask hard questionsBut are met with simple formulas and rules, glossing over the depths of truth

In this place they call “His Body”We reach out for intimacy, our hearts longing to be knownInstead slamming into a wall of dogmatic theology,Replacing the transformative gospel with doctrine

In this place they call “congregation”We yearn to be new, stumbling and falling in a world of painBut are encouraged to settle for stale, inauthentic structuresDulling the passion and joy we long for

In this place they call “the family of God”We hope for acceptance, a community of graceBut rather face selective judgment or hypocrisy, Forgotten amidst the competitions and power struggles disguised as “ministry”

In this place they call “the brethren”We expect equality, reflecting the image of God as women and menInstead suffocated by patriarchy, Half of us prevented from flourishing and leading-femininity the mark held against us

In this place they call “fellowship”We must be the change we search for, tiring of endless waitingRather than crawling, chained to the past Inviting you to dance with us into the future

In this place they call “church”We can either despair or dream, critique or actBut let’s build something together, Fusing yesterday’s wisdom with fresh hope for this hurting world